The House of Friendship in Kazakhstan’s Kokshetau has hosted the Akmola region’s first UNICEF youth forum, marking a significant step in empowering young voices under the national campaign “For the Rights and Well-being of Children and Youth.”
According to UNICEF Kazakhstan, similar events have already taken place in major cities such as Aktau, Astana, Shymkent, Almaty, and Semey, reflecting a growing movement to ensure every child in the country can thrive, The Caspian Post reports per Kazakh media.
The event brought together more than 100 young activists to discuss how to shape a future that upholds the rights of all children - and the role youth can play in achieving it. The forum also marked the official launch of the UNICEF Volunteer Hub in Kokshetau, designed to expand youth participation in promoting children’s rights.
Organized in collaboration with the Akmola Regional Akimat, Sh. Ualikhanov University, and UNICEF, the event was opened by Yersain Kabdrashev, UNICEF’s Youth Engagement Specialist and National Volunteer Program Coordinator.
“Kokshetau and the Akmola region are becoming key contributors to Kazakhstan’s growing youth movement for children’s rights,” Kabdrashev said. “With 69 youth organizations already active in the region, our goal is to bring them together to strengthen access to quality education, opportunity, and support for children and youth. By joining UNICEF’s global volunteer network - with more than 10 million young people in over 190 countries - youth in Akmola can become part of a powerful force for change.”
The first part of the forum focused on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child through an interactive workshop. Participants explored how children’s rights are implemented globally and in Kazakhstan, and shared ideas to improve the situation in their local communities.
In the second session, UNICEF introduced the newly launched Volunteer Hub and its educational program, which will offer free training for youth in six key areas:
Promotion of children’s rights
Prevention of violence and bullying
Mental and physical health support for children
Eco-volunteering
Leadership skills for volunteers
UNICEF’s mission, values, and history
In addition to training, the hub will host regular events led by and for young volunteers, including activities designed to benefit children directly.
Organizers highlighted the importance of reaching underserved rural communities across the Akmola region, where such programs are often limited. Plans are underway to extend UNICEF-led volunteer activities to villages and remote areas, ensuring equal access to opportunities for all youth.
Since 2020, more than 10,000 young people have joined the UNICEF volunteer movement in Kazakhstan. In the Akmola region alone, over 300 new volunteers registered in the past month. The next volunteer intake is scheduled for October 2025.
These initiatives not only build knowledge and skills but also enable youth to take meaningful action in their schools, universities, cities, and towns - driving positive social change from the ground up.
Meanwhile, at the national level, Kazakhstan’s First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Akan Rakhmetullin, recently met with UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, Regina De Dominicis, to discuss future cooperation. The meeting focused on shaping the new UNICEF Country Programme for 2026-2030 and strengthening key areas of joint work.
